Chapter 31

"What are you?"

Receiving the cold gaze of the king, Sophia bowed her head deeply. The ropes that bound her hurt, but there was no other way.

"I am Sophia, a maid serving Lady Lunatietta in Obdrael."

It's a lie, though.

She had been hired as a maid, but she was not a citizen of the Vaise kingdom. However, this was not the place to say that, so Sophia bowed so low that her forehead almost touched the marble. The floor looked painful, or rather, expensive.

"To think a mere maid would dare to speak to the king is quite impudent, is it not?"

"Your words are most just, but I must convey the words of His Majesty."

"What...?"

Told to raise her head, Sophia slowly straightened her body.

It was a well-known fact that this country did not engage in diplomacy.

Why it still existed was because its magical culture was exceptionally advanced. It was said that about a third of the enchanted magic stones circulating in the world were generated in this country. It was not a powerful nation with a Great Witch, nor did it have any desire to fight. That was the kind of country it was.

It would be troublesome if magic stones became hard to obtain, and even more so if the mages' powers were used in war.

Thus, Sophia did not know the king's face, and the king did not know Sophia's.

Seizing the opportunity, Sophia smiled.

"I am grateful for your gracious words."

"Your gratitude is unnecessary. Normally, I would not even wish to see the face of a commoner who knows nothing of magic."

This was the worst.

Sophia smiled.

A clear-cut sense of elitism. And a complete scoundrel. To him, those who couldn't use magic were not even human, and he even told a girl with exceptional magical abilities not to call him father. She wanted to kick his lofty beliefs to the curb, but that wasn't her job.

Sophia smiled carefully, making sure her brown eyes did not show any disgust at the king's golden ones.

"Bringing Lady Lunatietta to our country as the king's fiancée was supposed to be a symbol of peace between our two nations."

Yes, that's right.

The rapidly advancing Vaise kingdom had, without realizing it, surrounded itself with countries of mages. The tension among the upper echelons of these countries was palpable, wondering when and which side would invade. However, when Vaise welcomed the second princess of the mage country as a fiancée, things calmed down for the time being.

In that sense, the engagement to this country was of significant importance. However, to provoke a king who had supposedly agreed to peace was the height of folly.

What did he think of the promises between nations? Probably, that phrase said it all.

This king looked down on everyone who couldn't use magic. Oh, you didn't buy a new dress? How do you even survive in such an outfit? I can't help but laugh at what you say in such an outfit. If everyone could easily buy a new dress, they would, and dresses aren't necessary to live. But that didn't get through to him. He had no ears to hear. Without ears, he couldn't hear. Talking with his rigid, outdated self-awareness was a nuisance. A public nuisance.

What was it again?

Ah, right. The story of a fool who mistook the public promise of peace between nations for a child's casual promise to play next time.

"To suddenly attack His Majesty and treat Lady Lunatietta like a criminal, forcibly bringing her to this country..."

She wanted to say, "What are you thinking, you idiot? You should abdicate the throne immediately," but if Sophia were that thick-skinned, she wouldn't have suffered. Lying was nothing to her.

"Something must have gone terribly wrong. His Majesty does not wish for further conflict with your country. Please, tell us what has happened."

"Indeed, you must have realized that a barbarian nation like yours cannot stand against us."

"His Majesty believes that any damage must be minimized. If there is anything we can do, please let us know."

Of course, that was a lie! The overprotective king would never send his fiancée back to such a wretched country, and the king was in perfect health. He was so energetic that he was probably searching for the castle's weaknesses right now, accompanied by Livio, who was working as a bodyguard.

In other words, this time, Renetta and Sophia were the decoys.

Livio vehemently opposed the plan, suggesting a different strategy, but while Sophia was captivated by his serious face, she did not nod. Livio's serious face was amazing. His face when he confronted Vaise was even better. Her brain was so excited that it was wrapped in a headband, and she couldn't think of any other strategy.

The deciding factor was Azwele's words, "I will accompany you, and there will be no need to worry if I remain hidden."

"Concealing myself from mere humans is as easy as breakfast."

Azwele laughed and, after stepping away from the man immobilized by Renetta's magic, vanished with a *pon*.

Renetta, unable to sense Azwele's presence, exclaimed, "I can't feel any magic at all. Impressive indeed," but Sophia somehow knew he was right next to her.

Tilting her head, a low voice said, "The master is different."

It seemed no one else could hear that voice.

"The master and I have a master-servant contract, which makes us special."

"Amazing."

Azwele, nodding proudly, made a small, fluffy bear stand up in Sophia's mind. It was adorable.

"So, it's settled. I'll pretend to be dying on the road, and the young master will search the castle. Miss, please keep an eye on Renetta to make sure she doesn't do anything reckless. Renetta, you—"

"Yes."

Renetta raised her pale face.

Incidentally, the man holding a terrifying magic stone that would explode if released was even paler. Don't worry. If you want the explosion to be canceled, just do as you're told. Who's the terrorist here?

The man, unable to resist the magic of the god and the Great Witch, was hurriedly preparing the teleportation spell. It was a spell developed by the mage country that allowed multiple people to move to a designated location, and no other country could use it yet. Sophia was very curious about it.

"Renetta, just do your best."

"…Do my best?"

"!"

Vaise nodded and placed his hand on Renetta's head, making Sophia's heart race. Was it okay to watch this?

"You can run if you want. If you want to give up, just say so. I'll come immediately."

"Y-Yes."

"If not, do your best to destroy them."

"…Yes."

Clenching her lips and pressing her hand to her chest, Renetta looked down, and she was so cute. So cute.

Her eyes were red, and her black eyes shimmered slightly, and that face! That's the face I wanted to see, Sophia thought, glancing at Livio standing next to her.

When their eyes met, Livio smiled and bent down. So close! So close!! Swallowing a scream, Sophia felt her heart might burst as Livio leaned in.

"You're so cute."

"R-Renetta, is that—?"

Livio blinked his long lashes and shook his head.

"Seeing the happy Renetta and the happy Sophia is what's cute."

"!!!!"

Cute! So cute! Sophia is cute!

Despite her ongoing concerns about his aesthetic sense, she couldn't help but be happy. Her heart was pounding, but her brain was dancing with joy, ringing a bell in one hand.

"Please, Miss Sophia, don't overexert yourself. Call me anytime, whether something happens or not."

If she could call him even when nothing happened, they couldn't act separately. She decided to only call his name in emergencies, as she might call him every second otherwise.

Thus, even in a foreign land, even in front of the king, even bound by ropes, Sophia was not afraid at all.

She felt the warm magic of Azwele, who seemed to be watching over her, and knew that Livio and Vaise were in the castle. Next to her, Renetta, with a pale face, looked down.

If they didn't fight here, all the days of endurance would be meaningless.

"You are quite reasonable for someone from a country where magic is not widely spread."

"Thank you for your kind words."

They were not kind at all, and she felt like vomiting, but Sophia smiled and bowed.

By playing the role of a humble negotiator and indirectly selling Renetta, the king was in a good mood. Sophia's face twitched at the thought of such a despicable father.

Sophia had never been bothered by what she was called. She would always smile and nod, no matter what.

But the king's voice, eyes, and face, mocking Renetta and Vaise, were unbearable. She struggled to suppress the rising anger and disgust. Without the warm magic in her chest, she might have lashed out with sarcasm. It was a close call.

"Very well. Depending on your efforts, we will not interfere with that country again. We are not barbarians, after all."

Thinking that launching a military attack without thinking was barbaric, Sophia thought. Oh, noble people, you're so unpredictable!

Bowing respectfully to the high-spirited king, Sophia raised her head again.

"Then, what do you wish for?"

"Fix that room."

"That room...?"

As Sophia murmured, Renetta slowly raised her face.

Her black eyes, shadowed, blinked.

"I thought as much."

Now, Sophia was being led down a long staircase by a man in a white robe, Tibaeus, and other mages.

The ropes were untied after the door to the staircase was opened. Perhaps they thought it would be troublesome if she fell, or that there was no chance of escape from here on. It was reassuring, but it was good to be able to walk easily.

The sound of multiple footsteps echoed heavily. The overlapping echoes made her feel as if she were completely cut off from the world, making her feel unwell.

As they approached, the dark, suffocating magic grew thicker, as if trying to strangle her.

The "room" must be below.

"...Are you okay?"

Trying to suppress his nausea, Tibaeus, who was pressing his mouth, asked, and Sophia smiled.

"Lady Lunatietta has cast a protection spell on me."

This was not a lie. Before they left, Azwele and Renetta had carefully cast spells on everyone. It was a kind of armor that would not be shaken by ordinary attacks.

While the pressure of the magic was uncomfortable, it was not enough to make her stop walking like the man.

Only Sophia and Renetta reached the bottom of the stairs.

There, a large iron grate divided the room in half.

Black, cold, heavy, the iron grate.

A large, dented hole in the middle, broken magic array cards hanging from it, and a garish necklace-like decoration of magic stones hanging from the ceiling. Everything was strange.

Yet, Renetta's steps were unwavering.

She slipped through the large hole as if something had flown out of it and entered the iron grate. Then, she looked around and raised her gaze. High on the wall, a square hole with an iron grate was visible. Renetta looked up at it quietly, as if she had always done so.

"...R-Renetta, is this...?"

"This is..."

On the other side of the iron grate, there was a simple bed, a desk, and many bookshelves.

Don't say it.

Deny it.

But Sophia's wish was easily dismissed.

"This is the room where I grew up."